Saanich woman mugged, clubbed over the head walking home from volunteer job

Sep 18 2012

A Saanich woman was clubbed three times, including a blow to the head, in a vicious mugging Sunday night in the Hillside neighbourhood of Victoria.

The 24-year-old woman was walking home from a volunteer job just before 11 p.m. when she was robbed near the intersection of Quadra and Finlayson streets, police report.

A man struck her three times with a half-metre-long pipe, knocking her to the ground, and then he stole her purse. The blow to the back of her head required several stitches, say police.

The man ran south on Quadra Street with several witnesses chasing him. Those witnesses lost sight of the man near Topaz Avenue and the police canine unit was unsuccessful in tracking the man.

The victim described the man to be in his 30s between five foot five and five foot seven, and with a medium build.

He was wearing a grey hoodie, black scarf and bandana that covered the lower part of his face and khaki-coloured pants with work boots.

Police are asking the public to help identify the suspect. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Shauneen Cope at 250-995-7654. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).